<b>No. 10: Newton, Massachusetts</b>
With 54.3 percent of the population holding a bachelor's or master's degree, Newton was named the nation's No. 10 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this week.
Suburban house, lights illuminated in windows, Massachusetts, USA less

<b>No. 10: Newton, Massachusetts</b>
With 54.3 percent of the population holding a bachelor's or master's degree, Newton was named the nation's No. 10 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this ... more

Photo: Frank Siteman / Getty Images

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<b>No. 9: Westport, Connecticut</b>
With only 2.4 percent of the population having not completed high school, Westport was named the nation's No. 9 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this week.
Harbor in Sherwood island state park less

<b>No. 9: Westport, Connecticut</b>
With only 2.4 percent of the population having not completed high school, Westport was named the nation's No. 9 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this ... more

Photo: Jupiterimages / Getty Images/Comstock Images

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<b>No. 8: Upper Arlington, Ohio</b>
With 41.1 percent of the population topping out their educational lives by earning a bachelor's degree, Upper Arlington was named the nation's No. 8 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this week. less

<b>No. 8: Upper Arlington, Ohio</b>
With 41.1 percent of the population topping out their educational lives by earning a bachelor's degree, Upper Arlington was named the nation's No. 8 'most educated place' ... more

Photo: DNY59 / Getty Images

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<b>No. 7: Cupertino, California</b>
With 63 percent of the population holding a bachelor's or master's degree, Cupertino was named the nation's No. 7 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this week. less

<b>No. 7: Cupertino, California</b>
With 63 percent of the population holding a bachelor's or master's degree, Cupertino was named the nation's No. 7 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this ... more

Photo: Fotosearch / Getty Images/Fotosearch RF

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<b>No. 6: Needham, Massachusetts</b>
With 73.1 percent of the population holding a bachelor's or master's degree, Newton was named the nation's No. 6 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this week.
NEEDHAM - AUGUST 18: Neighborhood Farm, a collective of market gardens started by Kate Canney. Here, Canney works in one of the privately owned backyard gardens she maintains in Needham. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) less

<b>No. 6: Needham, Massachusetts</b>
With 73.1 percent of the population holding a bachelor's or master's degree, Newton was named the nation's No. 6 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this ... more

Photo: Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images

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<b>No. 5: Potomac, Maryland</b>
With 24.7 percent of the population holding a professional or doctoral degree, Potomac was named the nation's No. 5 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this week.
POTOMAC, MD - JUNE 02: Andrew D. Putnam hits his second shot from the bunker on the first hole during the Final Round of the Web.com Tour Mid-Atlantic Championship on June 2, 2013 at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm in Potomac, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) less

<b>No. 5: Potomac, Maryland</b>
With 24.7 percent of the population holding a professional or doctoral degree, Potomac was named the nation's No. 5 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this ... more

Photo: Patrick McDermott / Getty Images

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<b>No.4: Brookline, Massachusetts</b>
With 14.4 percent of residents over the age of 25 holding a doctoral degree, Brookline was named the nation's No. 4 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this week. less

<b>No.4: Brookline, Massachusetts</b>
With 14.4 percent of residents over the age of 25 holding a doctoral degree, Brookline was named the nation's No. 4 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this ... more

Photo: Jeff Penny / Getty Images/Flickr RF

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<b>No. 3: Wellsley, Massachusetts</b>
With 80.3 percent of the population holding a bachelor's or master's degree, Wellsley was named the nation's No. 3 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this week.
Building in Wellesley College less

<b>No. 3: Wellsley, Massachusetts</b>
With 80.3 percent of the population holding a bachelor's or master's degree, Wellsley was named the nation's No. 3 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this ... more

Photo: Aimin Tang / Getty Images

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<b>No. 2: Palo Alto, California</b>
With 14.5 percent of the population holding a doctoral degree -- the highest in America -- Palo Alto was named the nation's No. 2 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this week. less

<b>No. 2: Palo Alto, California</b>
With 14.5 percent of the population holding a doctoral degree -- the highest in America -- Palo Alto was named the nation's No. 2 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet ... more

Photo: Coyright Roy Prasad / Getty Images/Flickr Open

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<b>No. 1: Bethesda, Maryland</b>
With 27.3 percent of the population holding a professional or doctoral degree, Bethesda was named the nation's 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this week.
Large cherry tree in blossom less

<b>No. 1: Bethesda, Maryland</b>
With 27.3 percent of the population holding a professional or doctoral degree, Bethesda was named the nation's 'most educated place' by Nerd Wallet earlier this week.
Large ... more

Photo: Kohei Ueda / Getty Images/Flickr Open

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Palo Alto is the second 'most educated' place in U.S.

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In case you didn’t know it already, you’re surrounded by very smart people.

An analysis done by the consumer resource site NerdWallet concludes that Palo Alto is the second “most educated” place in the nation. As the home of desirable Stanford University, innovative technology companies like IDEO and Hewlett-Packard, it makes sense that this Bay Area enclave climbs to the top. While 30.9% of Americans have completed at least a bachelor’s degree, almost 80% of Palo Alto residents have an undergraduate degree and 14.5% have doctoral degrees, the highest percentage in the U.S.

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, NerdWallet focused on “broad-based education” (populations where the majority of workers are moderately educated over a workforce where some workers are very highly educated) to determine which cities made the cut.

Like many of the other nine cities that comprised the top 10 educated places (including the hub of Silicon Valley, Cupertino), Palo Alto is a wealthy city that’s situated next to a higher-education institution. However, its close proximity to the colorful Bay Area helps it to attract people with diverse backgrounds in law, tech, medicine and finance. Just another reason the Bay still beats out L.A.